How to Make Natural Rope

Knowing how to make natural rope can save your life in a wilderness survival situation. Natural rope (also known as cordage) can be used in a variety of ways, including the securing of cover, the creation of animal traps, the suspension of precious supplies in high places and the creation of fishing nets. Natural rope that is woven correctly can be just as strong as commercially available nylon rope.

Things You'll Need

  • Fibrous leaves, roots or bark
  • 4-inch sections of tree branch, 3
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Instructions

    • 1

      Collect your fibrous material. Palm leaves, yucca leaves, tree roots, long reeds or rushes, or strips of willow bark make for excellent fiber strips.

    • 2

      According to John Wiseman in "The SAS Survival Handbook," you should test your fiber by tying two lengths together with an overhand knot. Use a reasonable amount of strength to pull the lengths apart. Suitable fiber should "bite" and hold together. If your fiber slips or snaps, continue your fiber search.

    • 3

      Use square knots to tie your fibers together until you have three lengths of fiber that are at least 10 feet long.

    • 4

      Collect one end from each length of fiber and tie them all together with an overhand knot. Wedge this knot under a rock or in the crotch of a tree.

    • 5

      Tie the opposing end of each fiber length around a short section of tree branch to create a handle.

    • 6

      Pull the fiber lengths tight with the handles and braid them together. Follow this pattern: Cross the leftmost fiber over the center fiber. Cross the rightmost fiber over the new center fiber. Cross the new leftmost fiber over the new center fiber. Cross the new rightmost fiber over the new center fiber, and so on.

    • 7

      Tighten your braid as you work. After every 6 inches of braided rope, set the handles down, push the braiding towards the base knot. Doing so will make your rope shorter, but much stronger.

    • 8

      Continue braiding until the rope is complete. Untie the wooden handles and tie the lose ends together in an overhand knot.